Tiltable umbrella with clutch lock control for dual drives



S. N. SMALL Nov. 12, 1968 IILTABLE UMBRELLA WITH CLUTCH LOCK CONTROL FOR DUAL DRIVES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 16, 1967 INVENTOR. S/IMz/fl fi/ 5/7621.

ATTOHNE Y Nov. 12, 1968 S. N- SMALL TILTABLE UMBRELLA WITH CLUTCH LOCK CONTROL FOR DUAL DRIVES 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov 16, 1967 IN VENTOR. SAW/UH MSW/4U.

United States Patent 3,410,285 TILTABLE UMBRELLA WITH CLUTCH LOCK CONTROL FOR DUAL DRIVES Samuel N. Small, Valley Stream, N.Y., assignor to Alfred G. Cohen and Paul Weiss, Flushing, N.Y. Filed Nov. 16, 1967, Ser. No. 683,525 12 Claims. (Cl. 13520) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tiltable umbrella assemblage for mounting in connection with a support, incorporating a toothless rack drive for movement of the umbrella top into open, tiltable and closed positions and drive means for rotating the top when in tilted position and, wherein, both drives of the assemblage have tension control clutch locks for retaining the dual drives against movement independently of the manually actuated means for operation of each of the drives.

Background of the invention (1) The invention deals with an umbrella assemblage of the character defined, wherein an umbrella top supporting tube is slidably mounted in a rotatable tube mounted on a stationary tube structure and, wherein, said slidable tube is moved upwardly in the operation of collapsing the umbrella top.

(2) To applicants knowledge, an umbrella assemblage of the character described is new and applicant is not aware of any prior patents granted on an assemblage of this type and kind.

Summary of the invention The invention further deals with an umbrella assemblage of the character described, wherein a single manually operated crank is employed and movable into two different drive positions in actuating the dual drives of the umbrella and, wherein, independent clutch means are provided for each drive, normally retaining the parts of the assemblage against movement in positions thereof controlled by operation of said crank.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the assemblage indicating part of the umbrella top in open position and in closed position in dot-dash lines, with parts of the construction broken away and in section.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the dual drive mechanism of the assemblage, showing the crank in one operative position in full lines and in the second operative position in dot-dash lines, parts of the construction being shown in elevation.

FIG. 2A is a face view of part of the construction shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view on the line 33 of FIG. 2, with parts of the construction shown in elevation.

FIG. 3A ,is a face view of the structure shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the lower end of the rotatable tube and part of the stationary tube structure of the assemblage, with parts shown in elevation.

FIG. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the upper portion of the rotatable tube of the assemblage and the lower portion of the umbrella top supporting tube, with 3,410,285 Patented Nov. 12, 1968 "ice parts of the construction shown in elevation, this view illustrating the position of the parts when the umbrella top is in tilted position; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the drive drum detached.

Considering FIG. 1 of the drawing, the entire umbrella structure, which can be regarded as an assemblage, is detachably coupled with a table 10, having a fixed support post 11 projecting above the top of the table. The shafting of the assemblage comprises an umbrella top supporting and operating tube 12, movable upwardly and downwardly in an upper umbrella top rotatable tube 13, which seats on a collar 14 fixed to a stationary tube, comprising an upper part 15 and a lower part 15'. Joining these parts is a die cast housing 16 having upper and lower ends 16, 16" arranged in 15, 15', note FIG. 2. Mounted in the housing 16 is an elongated actuating rod or element 17 operated by a crank 18, as later described. The assemblage is detachably coupled with the shaft 11 by a standard spring button or pin 19. Fixed to the lower end of the tube 13 is a ring 20, note FIG. 4.

Considering FIG. 2, it will be seen that a rod driving drum 21 has a ball bearing mounting in a sleeve 22 arranged in the housing 16. One end of the drum 21 has an extension 23 engaged by a clutch 24 actuated by a clutch drive sleeve 25, with which the crank 18 is slidably keyed on a squared end of 25 in one position of the crank, as seen in full lines in FIG. 2. At this time, it is pointed out that the clutch 24 is generally similar to the clutch disclosed in my prior application, Ser. No. 615,590; filed Feb. 13, 1967 and, for this reason, no detailed description of the clutch is deemed to be necessary. The sleeve 25 and drum 21 are rotatably mounted on a shaft 26. The clutch 24 is mounted in a supporting plate 27 fixed to the housing 16. A similar plate 27' is fixed to the opposite side of the housing 16 and supports another clutch 24', similar to the clutch 24, engaging a bevelled gear 28 on the shaft 26. The gear 28 has a squared end 28' engaged by the clutch 24'. The drive sleeve 25' of the clutch 24' is pinned to the end portion of the shaft 26. In this connection, it will be understood that, when the crank 18 is in the dotted position of FIG. 2, the crank 18 is in coupling engagement with the shaft, as later described, for rotation of the gear 28 through action of the clutch 24'.

Centrally of the drum 21 is an annular bevelled wall recess 29 engaged by bevelled sides 17 of the rod 17 in driving said rod in both directions by operation of the crank 18, when in the full line position of FIG. 2. Note,

in this connection, FIGS. 3 and 5. In this operation, a spring-pressed ball 30, mounted in the crank 18, operates in an annular recess 31 in the sleeve 25, as shown in full lines in FIG. 2. However, in the dotted line position of the crank 18, the ball 30 engages an annular recess 32 in the shaft 26. In this latter position, a key pin 33 on the shaft 26 is in one of the key slots 34 onthe face of the crank 18. Note FIG. 2A.

Mounted in a recess in the housing 16 is a bevelled gear 35 fixed to the lower end of a long shaft 36 arranged in the upper end 16' and in the tube 15. The gear 35 meshes with the gear 28. The other end portion of the shaft 36 has key means 37, FIGS. 4 and 5, engaging a pinion 38 on the shaft 36. The pinion 38 engages an internal gear 39, FIG. 5. The gear 39 is secured to the lower face of the ring 20. Note FIG. 4. At this time, it is pointed out that, when the crank 18 is in the dotted position of FIG. 2, the gear 28 will drive the gear 35, rotating the shaft 36, thus driving the pinion 38 and, in its engagement with the internal gear 39, the tube 13 is rotated, in rotating the umbrella to any desired position, particularly when the top is tilted, so as to provide a shield from the sun at any circumferential position around the table top 10.

To the upper end of the rod 17 is fixed a coupling pin 40, FIG. 6, the head 41 of which is retained in a plug 42 by a plate 43 attached to 42, the plug being fixed in the lower end of the tube 12. This structure provides rotation of the tube 12 on 40, 41 when the rotatable tube 13 is rotated in shifting the position of the umbrella top.

At the upper end of the shaft 36 is a bearing ring 44 fixed to the tube 15, note FIG. 4. This bearing ring has a recess 44' at one side thereof for free movement of the rod 17 therein.

One side of the housing 16 has a recess, in which is mounted a thrust unit 45 for the rod 17. Note FIGS. 3, 3A. This unit is of the type disclosed in my prior application, heretofore identified. The unit 45 comprises a channelled supporting plate 46 secured to the housing 16 by spring tensioned screws 47. In the plate is an elliptical channel ball race 48, supporting a plurality of bearing balls 49. One raised channel of the race 45 supports the balls in pressure engagement with the rod 17, as diagrammatically seen at 49 in FIG. 3, to support the rod 17 in firm driving engagement with the recess 29 of the drum 21 in the upward and downward movement of said rod in the operation of raising and lowering the umbrella top. This operation takes place in rotation of the crank 18 when in its full line position of FIG. 2, the clutch 24 engaging the drum 21 to control this movement.

Considering FIGS. 1 and 6, it will appear that the upper end of the tube 13 includes a rib supporting member, diagrammatically shown at 50, to which the ribs 51 of the umbrella top 52 are pivoted. Centrally of the top 52 is a disc 53 fixed to a tilting mechanism, comprising an arm 54, pivoted, as seen at 55, to a cleat 56 mounted on the tube 12. The arm 54 has an angular slot 57, in which a pin 58 of an actuating mechanism operates in moving the umbrella top 52 into tilted position, the pin 58 moving upwardly in a slot 59 in the tube 12. This structure, in the present illustration, is only diagrammatically shown, but it deals with an umbrella tilting mechanism of the type and kind shown in my prior Letters Patent No. 2,979,065, granted Apr. 11, 1961. The pin 58 is fixed to a sleeve 60 arranged and movable in the tube 12, the sleeve supporting another pin 61 operating in another slot 62 directly below the slot 59 in the tube 12. The pin 61 and slot 62 are more clearly shown in FIG. 6 of the drawing, in which figure the lower end of the sleeve 60 can be seen in the slot 62.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that, in the downward movement of the tube 12, both of the pins 58 and 61 will move upwardly in the slots 59 and 62, respectively, thus moving the umbrella top 52 into a tilted position by swinging of the arm 54 to the right, as seen in FIG. 1 of the drawing. The pin 61, in the above operation, bears upon the rib supporting member 50.

In the present disclosure, the rod or element 17 has the bevelled side walls 17' operatively engaging the bevelled wall recess 29 of the drive drum 21. However, it will be understood that this rod or element can be of any cross-sectional contour to engage the bevelled recess in providing the upward and downward drive of the element employed. Considering FIG. 2 of the drawing, the parts are shown in the drive position of the element 17, with the crank 18 driving the drum 21 through the clutch 24. Assuming that the umbrella top 52 is in the closed position, shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 1, the top will be moved into the open position, diagrammatically seen, by downward movement of the element 17 to a position substantially similar to that shown in FIG. 1. If it is desirable to tilt the umbrella top, this movement is continued to bring the parts into the position shown in FIG. 6 of the drawing, in which position, the top 52 will be tilted. Then, and whenever it is desirable to shift the tilted position of the umbrella top circumferentially around the table to provide the protection against sun rays, the crank 18 will simply be moved into the dotted line position, permitting drive of the gear 28 through the clutch 24' to actuate the gear 35 on the shaft 36, resulting in rotation of the umbrella top by rotation of the pinion 38 in actuation of the internal gear 39, note FIGS. 4 and 5, in which operation the tube 13 rotates on the upper rounded head end 41 coupled with the element 17. Note FIG. 6. In both of the above drives, the clutches 24, 24' will operate to retain the actuated parts in fixed position against movement independently of crank operation. In the rotation of the tube 13 for shifting the position of the umbrella top 52, it will be understood that a rotary movement is imparted to the tube 12, which rotates upon the pin 40, including its head 41, note FIG. 6, so that the element 17 is maintained stationary against rotation at all times.

In the operation of moving the umbrella top from its extended position, the crank 18 is moved into the full line position of FIG. 2, the crank is rotated to first move the umbrella top from the tilted to the normal upright position, shown diagrammatically in full lines in FIG. 1, by upward movement of the tube 12 and this upward movement is continued, until the umbrella top is moved into the closed position, diagrammatically outlined in dot-dash lines in FIG. 1. In this latter movement and by virtue of the positioning of the crank on the table, it will appear that this operation can be performed in the manner which would clear the heads of people sitting around the table, assuming that they were present at the time that the umbrella was moved into the collapsed position. The crank 18 is readily accessible at all times for operation thereof and, particularly in shifting the tilted position of the rum brella top to provide the desired shelter from sun rays.

In the above described operation of the drive of the rod or element 17, it will be understood that the bearing balls 49 are in yieldable pressure engagement with the element in support of the bevelled walls 17 in engagement with the recess 29 or the drum 21 and that these balls travel around the race supporting the same in providing the upward and downward feeds of the element 17. The element 17 travels freely in the bearing guides therefor in the housing 16 and the upper and lower end portions 16', 16", as well as in the bearing rin 44 supporting the upper end of the shaft 36.

In detaching the umbrella assemblage from the supporting post 11 of the table 10, the pin 19 is simply depressed and the complete assemblage is raised out of the post 11, as will be apparent.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An umbrella assemblage comprising three primary tube structures, namely a stationary tube, a rotatable tube mounted on the stationary tube and an umbrella top supporting tube slidably mounted in said rotatable tube, means at the upper end portion of the slidable tube for tilting an umbrella top with respect to said slidable tube, the umbrella top including ribs pivoted to a member at the upper end portion of said rotatable tube, said stationary tube structure including a housing supporting drive means actuated by a driver movable into one drive position for actuating an element coupled with said slidable tube for movement of the umbrella top into extended and collapsed positions, said driver, in another position thereof, actuating drive means in said housing and said stationary tube for drive rotation of said rotatable tube in rotation of the umbrella top 360 around said stationary tube, and said first named drive means actuating the slidable tube for movement of said tilting means into operative and inoperative positions.

2. An umbrella assemblage as defined in claim 1, wherein said second named means comprises a drive drum driven through clutch means actuated by said driver, and said drum having a bevelled wall annular recess engaged by said element in feed of the sliding tube in both directions in said rotatable tube.

3. An umbrella assemblage as defined in claim 2, wherein yieldable anti-frictional means is employed for tensionally supporting said element in engagement with said drum in the drive of said element in both directions.

4. An umbrella assemblage as defined in claim 3, wherein said element has a cross-sectional contour seating in the bevelled walls of the recess in said drum.

5. An umbrella assemblage as defined in claim 1, wherein means is employed providing a rotatable mounting of the slidable tube on one end portion of said element, and said stationary tube having means for guiding the element in its movement longitudinally of said tube.

6. An umbrella assemblage as defined in claim 1, wherein said driver comprises a crank, said third named means comprising a shaft, to which said crank is coupled, a clutch actuated by the shaft and in coupling engagement with a bevelled gear operatively engaging another bevelled gear fixed to an elongated shaft mounted in said stationary tube, and said elongated shaft having, at its upper end portion, a pinion keyed thereto and operatively engaging an internal gear fixed to the lower end portion of said rotatable tube.

7. An umbrella assemblage as defined in claim 1, wherein said driver comprises a crank, said second named means comprising a drive drum driven through clutch means actuated by said crank, said drum having a bevelled wall annular recess engaged by said element in feed of the sliding tube in both directions in said rotatable tube, said third named means comprising a shaft, to which said crank is coupled, a clutch actuated by the shaft and in coupling engagement with a bevelled gear operatively engaging another bevelled gear fixed to an elongated shaft mounted in said stationary tube, said elongated shaft having, at its upper portion, a pinion keyed thereto and operatively engaging an internal gear fixed to the lower end portion of said rotatable tube, and both of said clutches operating to retain the umbrella top against movement independent of the crank.

8. An umbrella assemblage as defined in claim 7,

wherein said stationary tube includes means for detachably coupling the umbrella assemblage with a supporting post, and means yieldably keying said crank in both of its drive positions.

9. An umbrella assemblage as defined in claim 8, wherein said housing includes upper and lower extensions, to which upper and lower tubes are fixed in forming the lower stationary tube structure.

10. An umbrella assemblage as defined in claim 9, wherein means is employed on the housing for support of the clutches thereon, and said housing supporting antifrictional means for tensionally supporting said ele ment in engagement with said drum in the drive of said element in both directions.

11. A dual drive mechanism of the character defined, said mechanism comprising driving means mounted in a stationary tube structure, said means in one position of drive actuating an element coupled with a slidable tube structure mounted in a rotatable tube structure in movement of a member coupled with said slidable tube structure into different positions, and said first named means in another drive position actuating means for rotating said member in one position of said slidable tube structure.

12. A dual drive mechanism as defined in claim 11, wherein said member is movable into a tiltable position in said one position of the slidable tube structure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,541,278 6/1925 Pugel -46 2,595,697 5/1952 Pereira 135-46 X 2,721,569 10/1955 Militano 135-46 X 2,731,973 1/1956 Roth et al. 135-46 X 2,979,065 4/1961 Small 135-46 3,145,720 8/1964 Giichi Torii 135-46 X PETER M. CAUN, Primary Examiner. 

